Up until now, we did not know fully what the bike would look like, but this photo featured by MotoSprint.it sheds some light on the new Ducati, and confirms earlier reports we’d been given. Featuring an over-square v-twin motor (hence the name Superquadrata that’s been milling about), the 2012 Ducati Superbike says goodbye to the iconic trellis frame, and features a chassis that takes a page from Ducati’s MotoGP project.

Expected to use an aluminum stressed airbox/forward sub-frame (though we expect the higher-spec versions to use carbon fiber), the 2012 Ducati Superbike builds the chassis off the v-twin motor. We see confirmation of this by the spied Superquadrata’s extremely long swingarm, which attaches to the engine as well. This arrangement should give the new Superbike a lower weight (20 lbs saved we hear), and not to mention better handling, which the bike will need in order to tame the additional horsepower the over-square Superquadrata motor will make.

Testing the bike at Mugello was Italian Danilo Petrucci, who currently campaigns a Ducati 1098R in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup for the Barni Racing team. Also according to reports, Ernesto Marinelli, former factory Ducati Wold Superbike engineer and current crew chief for Carlos Checa, is overseeing the testing of the new Superbike, keeping a keen eye on how the bike will fare for the 2012 World Superbike season.

It’s interesting to note the horizontal position of the rear shock, and the noticeable GP-style exhaust on the rider’s right side. This partially confirms that the new Superquadrata Superbike would take its exhaust cues from the Ducati Desmosedici, with exhaust cans at the rider’s feet, as well as one integrated into the tail section. We’ll have to wait for better pictures of the bike to confirm that aspect of what our sources have told us, but so far so good. More info as we get it, but doesn’t that bike look tiny?

“Featuring an over-square v-twin motor (hence the name Superquadrata that’s been milling about)” Did you mean V-four? I don’t speak italian, but quad usually means 4 right?

G

quadrata means square

GeddyT

I don’t see the underseat muffler at all. Also, that’s a single sided swingarm. I had read (and patent drawings showed) a dual sided swingarm a la GPx. The horizontal shock is also quite interesting, as neither the GP11 nor GP12 have a horizontal shock.

Also, I’m guessing this is the WSBK racing prototype, as I doubt that gas charged fork makes the street model in anything less than an R version (they’re over $6000 by themselves)

Man I am liking it already! I hope that underslung exhaust makes it to production!

Damo

Man do the ergos on that bike look crippling! That is a shame as the 1098-1198 are decently comfortable to throw a leg over.

gjracer

Thank you … someone else noticed how frigging small this thing is. It is going to have awesome suspension, brakes and engine. Using the engine as a stress member; time will tell if dumping the trellis was a good idea or not. I am sorry, though;who will buy this mini-moto with those ergos. Unless the test rider is standing on the pegs and is off the seat by a foot…a person is going to be humping this mini bike the whole time. I was really looking forward to this thing, now I just am just raising an eyebrow. But like he said it could just be a bad angle shot.

Damo

@gjracer

I am with you on this one. I am not a huge guy (6’2″ 200lbs), but by the looks of it that bike would be beyond tiny for me. Aprilia’s RSV4 suffers the same fate with me.

I like what KTM is doing with its superbike line. Making a fast AND comfortable race replica (at a much more attractive price than the Italians as well, I might add).